Whiskey Inferno Meat House & Craft Bar — Restaurant in Savage

Update: I came back here with my friend after a gym session back in May, we were seated in the corner then we waited half hour no one came to give us a glass of water or even checked on us or even said "I'll be with you soon" or nothing. We saw our server, she saw us and locked eyes after a few times but she kept on walking but would go talk to other tables around us. We then had to ask one of the other servers around if we could order, thinking maybe we got the wrong server for our table, but we were told our waitress (the one we locked eyes with and ignored us a few times) would be one to take our orders. So me and my friend after several failed attempts to get the waitress's attention and feeling ignored and disrespected, we decided to leave for another place across the street which we didn't have to fight for a glass of water to be honest. This was my second time here and I had to change it to 1 star for bad service, the staff was young and also not attentive on my first visit but the 2nd time was very bad. We were not being treated like customers at all. Never coming back again.

First of, the atmosphere was amazing, loved the interior and the vibe inside.

Drinks were really good, especially the old fashioned. Then, I got the steak tips and crab cakes for apps, the tips were overall good but not all pieces are cooked evenly, some were soft and tender while some were hard and chewy, lovedd the dipping sauce though. Crab cakes were pretty delicious as well.

The entrees were the most anticipated but also most dissapointing..we got the salmon and scallops. The sides were good, but scallops were definitely way overcooked, very chewy, then there's a bed of corn cream puree underneath that was runny and watery felt like the scallops were swimming in corn soup..the bacon was sad and stale not even crunchy, the basil flavor also threw me off..I don't think the combination of everything went well together on the plate because the watery corn puree kind of made the bacon soggy and the strong basil did not go well with the light flavor of the rest of the dish, either that or they weren't just properly executed.

The only good thing about the salmon was the overpowering strong flavor of the whiskey glaze on top, but that was probably to mask how overcooked the salmon was as well, the salmon itself was not well seasoned and quite bland beside being overcooked, even the glaze couldn't save it. $38 for 6 scallops and $30 for salmon..I was expecting at least my food to not be overcooked, and for some effort into plating and tasting the dishes before sending them out to customers. Overall there's definitely room for improvement, despite that I would definitly go back for a drink and good atmosphere but not...

We love the food we've had here, but have had poor dine-in and pick-up experiences.

Last table service: (Restaurant total, not our section) 4 tables eating appetizers or entrees when we arrived, yet the server didn't greet us for almost 10 minutes. We placed drink orders. 3 other tables (3-4 tops) were seated while we waited for our drinks. Every other table received their drinks before us, and most received their food before us, even though we ordered before any of them. It was ridiculous.

Last pick-up order (a Tuesday): Oh, the simple things. "It'll be ready in 15 minutes!" I live 3 minutes away, but was working, so it took me 20 minutes to arrive. Waited 20 minutes after that for the food to be ready, and another 10 while the host looked for a manager to correct the bill. Also, we ordered PLAIN chicken wings, sauce on the side. How difficult is that? The written order said exactly that. The wings were soaked in sauce.

Tonight's order was really special. Had to repeat my order and name several times (my name was still wrong on the receipt). I tried to pay over the phone. They said I had to pay there.

Employees saw but ignored me at the host stand. A server came by to grab cleaning items and walked away. I said, "Hi," but got no eye contact, acknowledgement, reply.

I thought the person who took my order might come to the front. Nope. The same server returned cleaning items, again ignoring me, until I said, "Hi!" much more loudly than I normally would. He finally acknowledged my existence and said, "Did you come in for a drink or something?" I said I was waiting for a to-go order. He waved his hand and said, "It'll be over there when it's done," and walked away. I waited again. Eventually, the same person brought my order, and thrust the bag at me, "Here you go." As I reached for it, it fell to the floor. He picked it up, held it out until I had it firmly in hand, and started walking away. I said, "I haven't paid for this yet!" "You ordered on the phone?" "Well, yes!" (online ordering/payment is not an option, even though it looks like it on the website.) He seemed so "put out" that he had to run my card.

Our food was well-cooked and seasoned - very flavorful (except the half raw onion rings), but for one of the few times in my life, after 2+ decades in bar/restaurant management, I didn't tip.

If I were a terrible person, I would have taken the food without paying for it, because based on staff attentiveness/engagement, no one would have even noticed until receipts didn't add up.

Do better,...

This place is special... And full disclosure: the beer can chicken just might change your life. This restaurant is a favorite of my family's, who come in from other areas of the country and ask "When are we going to Whiskey Inferno?" The secret sauce here seems to be a whole-company dedication to service coupled with a super-strong process that makes getting it wrong nearly impossible. There are several employees who have remained with the company since its opening (so it can have that comfortable, familiar feeling) - and you can see why. Especially during COVID, the owners seemed to be incredibly intent on taking care of their team and it made patrons like us determined to ensure that the place survived the pandemic. As for the food: I've already hailed the chicken as life-changing. The brisket comes in as a close second - it is tender - almost melting in your mouth (and the brisket nachos are a big family fav). While the sauce is great, they let the meat do the work (rightly so). The elk sausage is superb, and the chili is an explosion of flavor. And if you can't decide, the Butcher's Feast (which has a little bit of all their best stuff) is perfect for a foursome "sharesies" - and you can add that chicken to the feast as well. The staff are passionate about the food and if you ask, they will explain to you why each dish is special in the way it is prepared. In terms of the drinks - the mixologists aren't kidding around. They know their stuff and the menu shifts with the seasons. Trying their concoctions is F-U-N...but my go-to will always be their Old Fashioned, which they will put in the smoke box upon request. The selection of whiskeys and bourbons is impressive - and they carry my personal favorite (Woodford Reserve, Double Oaked). The atmosphere and ambiance is great inside, with dark woods and old books as part of the decor, yet they manage to avoid a stuffy feeling...if you are lucky, though, you may find yourself at the back of the restaurant in their covered and heated patio where the smell of fire and whiskey and wood will make you feel all warm and cozy and ready for one of their brilliant whiskey flights. My extended family loves gathering around one of their fire tables where they can comfortably seat all 8 of us and keep us warm. Cannot recommend this restaurant more highly. (Now if they would just bring back the brisket tacos that were on their menu when they first opened, my friends and family would be...